Spellman students lay beloved teacher to rest

Cardinal Spellman High School students honored Linda Warnock, a Spanish teacher of 40 years, during her funeral on Wednesday.

Staff Reporter

BROCKTON – Students, faculty and alumni of Cardinal Spellman High School are mourning the death of Linda Warnock this week, a Spanish teacher who served at the school for 40 years.

Warnock died on Sunday, April 13, surrounded by family after a battle with cancer.

“Her loss has been felt in every nook and corner of Spellman High School,” said Spellman President Julian Peebles. “She was an exceptionally brilliant teacher and an even better person, and the school will miss her dearly.”

In a reflection posted on the school’s web site, Principal Paul Kelly described how one of Warnock’s final wishes was to have a “Spellman funeral.”

On Wednesday morning, students gathered at Immaculate Conception Church in Weymouth to make sure the wish came true.

A group of students wearing their Spellman uniforms served as an honor guard at the service, and the Spellman choir provided the music for the funeral.

“Linda was quoted as saying there were three things that were important in her life: family, travel and Spellman,” Peebles said.

A sign outside the high school on Wednesday read “Gracias Senora Warnock. God bless you.”

“First and foremost, she sincerely loved her students, and from that unconditional reality, she perfected her craft as a master teacher,” said Kelly in his reflection.

Often that love showed through in her enthusiasm for her students which remained unabated even after 40 years on the job, said Peebles.

“Mrs. Warnock was many things to many people, but she will universally be remembered as a beautiful, vibrant, positive and dynamic person, who lit up a room with her smile and energy,” Kelly said in the reflection. “Spellman is a better school because of her and we are all better people for having known her.”